Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-20
NEW PLAYER SIGNED
Wrigley Of Roanoke Secured as a
General Utility Man.
said TO Be GOOD HITTER And FIELDER
Mr.. Wagner Discusses Joyce's Re-
cent Statements.
CURRENT SPORTING NOTES

CURRENT SPORTING NOTES
Having strengthened the hole at third
base on the Washington base ball club, Mr..
}. Earle wagner has turned his attention
to strengthening the team in other ways
and TO-DAY signed a new man. This player
Is George Wrigley of the Roanoke club Of
the virginia League. He is a third base
man and shortstop,- but has been secured
for the Washington club as a general util
lily man. Wrigley is highly recommended
to Mr.. Wagner by several base ball experts,
who claim that he is in the same class
with DeMontreville and Smith. His record
shows him to be gilt-edged fielder and
batter of the first water. The new man
Will report for duty tomorrow, but 1t Is
not likely that he will go in the game I'M
less some one is hurt.
The Other Players Pleased.
The old players on the Washington club
are greatly pleased with the work Of Har-
vey Smith, who made his debut in the Ma
honal League yesterday. Charley Farrell
stated to Star reporter that he has play
ed before in games in which Smith par
ucipated and the youngster gave just such
an eHhiDitioH as Delighted the 1ans at Ma
tienal Park yesterday. Mr.. Wagner Is
very much pleased with the new acQuisi-
uon smith. he said, has always played
what Is known skin diamond, that
Is, one on which there Is no grass. A bat
ted ball bounds in far different manner
on grass than on the bare ground, and Mr.
wagner entertained some fear that the
change would worry Smith. but was agree
ably disappointed
1t was learned today that Capt Tebeau
OF the Cleveland club yesterday endeavored
with great amount of energy to rattle
and discourage Washingtons new third
baseman. He stationed himself on the
coach lines and kept Up a running fusillade
OF caustic comments about the work OF the
young man. but Smith, acting under the
advice of his comrades, totally ignored the
abusive visitor. Finally Tebeau said: Say,
young Teller, you won't last the day out
You had better GO take OFF your uniform"
1t is queer coincidence that a moment
later Tebeau was ordered out Of the game
and off the grounds, and he was the one
who changed his attire.
The Club in a Bnd Way.
Il cm not giving utterance to any hard
luck complaints id Mr. j. Earle Wagner
to Star reporter this afternoon, but
nevertheless 1t is a fact that the Washing
ton club Is badly handicapped at the pres
ent moment. The four star pitchers of the
team-Mercer. Maui, King and McJames-
are disabled. Tom Brown Is suffering with
Charley horse and Selbach Is also injured.
The only pitchers we have available for
duty are German. Norton and Flynn. Ger
mans arm is sore. and he might be classcd
among the disabled ones. l maintain that
with our pitchers in proper shape the
Washington club would make a good show
Ing against any other team in the league
Setback will return to the game tomorrow
and Brown Will then probably be given a
chance to recuperate, Lush PLAYING left
a hhav Will OH oh i,, bo
center garden. If we should be SO unfor-
tunate as to have another man injured
VIZ, Mlsiey; the new man, will be on hand to
Joyce's Statements Discussed.
The public statements by Joyce that have
appeared recently do not agree with the
views entertained by Mr.. Wagner During
the first ten weeks Of the season 1t is
stated that Joyce admits that a more har-
monious LOT of players than those of the
Washington club was not to be found in
the league. He further says that the trou-
BILE began to brew when on the first ca tern
trip. and in these troubles 1t Is declared
Joyce was prominent character In all
OF toyce's statements, so Mr.. Wagner de-
clares. he does not controvert one fact that
has heretofore been claimed by Mr. Wag-
rer, but on the other hand he admits SO
1t is said. that he was the cause of dis
satisfaction among the players, explaining
ehot theS were SlNiIS HSIleSS ana me-
chanical exhibition and did not care wheth-
er they won or not. If this condition was
true, Mr.. Wagner claims that he should have
been so Informed by Joyce when he Joined
the club a. Cleveland and thereby given an
opportunity to Investigate the condition of
things and II necessary relegate the Of
Tending player or players to the bench
Mr. Wagner says that when he met joyce
at Cleveland the latter attributed the loss
of games to streak Of bad luck, and as
sured the owner of the club that everything
was all right. There was no intimation
given then that any Of the players were in
different and Mr.. Wagner believes that
there was not a man on the team who did
rot play an earnest and honest game and
use all the intelligence In his power to win
while Joyce was in command. The state
ment by Joyce that the men played list
lessiy and mechanically and did not care
whether they won or not Is characterized
IS an insult to every player on the club.
Mr.. Wagner says that in an experience ex-
terding through twenty-five pears he never
saw more conscientious or willing set of
ball players than those now under contract
with the Washington club.
Joyce Blamed.
Joyce boasts of knowledge of team work,
so says Mr.. Wagner but If he possesses
this knowledge he failed dismally in i'm
parting it to the team under his charge.
and confesses that dumb coaching and
base running characterized the work of
the men. Mr.. Wagner adds that under a
competent and capable manager this dumb
playing would not have been so much in
evidence. Joyce further says. according to
Mr.. Wagner. that early in the season the
men were inclined to listen to and obey
him. but as the enthusiasm gradually died
away there came a sullen, mechanical and
dumb spell that thoroughly Disguised him.
Mr.. Wagner thinks it is remarkable that
when Joyce became so disguised at this
state of affairs he did not inform the own
ers Of the fact and give them some oppor-
tunity to correct matters. He was receiy-
ing large salary for his services as a
manager-player, and Mr.. Wagner thinks
he should have been loyal to the interests
Of the latter. If such a state of affairs ex-
listed as Joyce described he made no re-
port concerning it, and Mr.. Wagner thinks
he has not only proven himself incompe-
tent, but an migrate in addition Instead
Of %aknE ns complaints in t to him "a about bad
feeling existing among the players, saws
Mr.. Wagner. Joyce tried to mislead him,
assuring him at all times that everything
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