Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-16
ExCHANGINGPLAYERS
Interest in the Coming Meeting of
the National League.
CLUBS TO- Be STRENGTHENED
Considering Remedies for EIimin-
~atug' Rowdiness.
y "
PROPOSED REG ULATIONS

The meeting OF the National League mag
mates in Philadelphia next month Is looked
forward to with a great deal of interest
both by the base ball people themselves
and the public at large. The magnates
and players are Interested in the adoption
of new playing rules and the swapping of
players, while the dear public with base
ball sympathies is Chiefly interested in
the trades 1t has been conceded by those
magnates who have talked with newspaper
men that there Is not a club in the league
that will not be involved in one OF more
exchange of players. Perhaps Chicago
may be the one exception. The ST. Louis
club will trade and sell almost any old
thing from player down to a WORKOUT
shoot-the-chute. The Louisville club still
bankers after hard hitters and second and
third basemen In particular. The Cincin-
Eau managers, President Brush and Cap
tain Ewing, arc also in the same boat as
regards hard nttters, brt want the new
men for the outfield. CT ,einnati has little
timber to trade. and for this reason will
probably get into the game next spring
with only the addition of the men drafted
| from the Western League. Cleveland looks
like the "Klondike" of the National League
President Robson has men to sell and
trade that are up in the trent rank of
players, and for this 1S-karat gold outfit
about eleven magnates of the league are
willing to pull Off their coats and dig as
II their lives depended upon their exer-
ton or craftiness. Pittsburg is almost as
bad off as the st. Louis outfit, with the ex-
ception that they have nothing to sell or
trade. but are willing TO buy. But three
top-notcherS are among the players re-
served by the Pittsburg club-Donoyan
Hawley and Killen-and- of course it would
be suicide to let either of these men slip
away from the smoky city
In the East
Then the vision is shifted to the east.
Bostcn Is said to be again mixed up in one
OF those interior broiis, Hamilton and
Lowe being selected as the victims, and :,
trade full of interest can be looked for
from that quarter New York wants a
third baseman, but he will have to be an
extraordinary player to supplant Captain
Joyce, whose stick work, base running and
al-around ability is marred only by erratic
neiclhs; Brooklyn is another rich and
Juicy club IN the matter of having good
men to let out. Griffin, LaChance and
Trim are the men spoken of to go on the
block, and perhaps one or two others.
Philadelphia is the mecca toward which all
the mhgrateS with gold bricks to Sell or
trade have tured their eyes. There are
several players ON the Quaker pay roll who
will have to. be let cut notably Cooley
Clements. Dowd. Cross and perhaps Dele
that
use at least one Of these men? Manager
Stailtngs Is willing. but the crafty Reach
and Rogers are 10th to deal with the men
whom they have known for years knowing
.nll Wen the little chance they have OF get
tlns the best of almost anything. Baiti-
more has proaaa bly, only one trade or arc
ton in sight, that is Jack DOYLE and only
TINS notorious but skiliful player is men
tienea' as ne has made the remark very fire.
dhehtiy OF late that he is tired of Balti-
more, ard wants to get away Manager
1ianlon KNOWS base ball too well to retain
player when once he has become dis
satisfied with his surrounding 1i-os
This brings he Shoroscct,,' t4ootn 70 our
out a second and third baseman and an
other fielder are eeded and. while MI
Wagner and Tom Brown are fully aware of
tHe many menn theychape drafted to fill in
these positions, men with regulations above
the ordinary. they will not refuse a trade
that would land a Childs. a McGraw or a
Eeiehanty. And, while these three men
mentioned are almost in a class by them
selves, it will not be out of the Way to
mention that the very men Messrs. Brown
ana wagner may let go might turn out to
De equally as good tie great trio men
toned Here comes the difficulty that con-
fronts the local managerial be able to
tell a good man before he has proven his
worth en- the fast diamonds of the National
League. What TIE local enthusiasts hone
Tor is that Messrs. Wagner and Brown
may have almost supernatural foresight
and that trades may be forthcoming
The most serious question to come before
the IN. league governing body is double
header, viz: Rowdyism-its cause and eff
1ect. one answer will do for both-the
umpire. The rules provide that the runner
snail always be given the benefit of "a close
decision In this respect they have been
more honored in the breach than in the
observance. Umpires have not treated
pitchers fairly The rule allowing corners
has been disregarded A pitcher has had
TO split the plate or base on balls was
the result. This severity has not only
caused hard feeling on the part of the
tWirler and the men backing him, but has
checked the true spirit of the game, which
calls for fair percentage of hitting. There
is little sport in seeing a man pose for a
rev minutes and then amble to first base
on pass" Another breach on the UNI
piie's part is the laxity exercised toward
hitting them to question his decisions
where judgment alone is at fault. Even the
capita rs are barred from such protests, and
the enforcing Of this rule alone would wipe
out about .three-fourths of the difficulty.
Now Is the time to criticise the umpires
and magnates, and not while the playn,,
season is on Then it is apt to breed dis
content among all the people concerned.
while now, with the leagTe's meeting in
sight. some goodemay be accomplished.
The remedy is the double umpire sys-
tenn. One poor umpire, with both base and
| all decisions his mind may become at
strain. If, as seems to be the case, it is
i'm possible for one man to be at all times
In the best possible position or condition,
there is grave liability to error from lack
of knowledge. Nothing stirs up discord on
the ball field SO quickly the idea that
there has been mistake which, under
better conditions. would not have been
made Remedy the possibility of these
mistakes and the magnates need go no fur
Their to prevent the recurrence of scenes
that all regret. .
Base Ball Briefs.
Umpire Lynch will not prefer charges
against Doyle of the Baltimores at the
league meeting, TINE softens.
The latest vHHih3IPf little cupids shafts
Is jeremiah Southpaw. Nops, who is pre-
pairing for his approaching nuptials to
young lady in Philadelphia.
Patsy Tebeau say$ of Pickering, the ex-
Colonel, who has playe such good ball for
Cleveland: Pick is a peach! He will
cover center fer s4sagain next season. and
with. Pick, BaS&ztts and Sox, / expect to
have the heaviest hitting outfield IN the
league"
1t is now given. opt by the Temple cup
players that xheS Baltimore players each
Received $40 as his share of the cup
game RECEIPTS snd 1he Boston players each
got S2OI. Tim MurlaEe.e who was with the
clubs, SAYS th9h MEN sf,lit Nm even If's a