Evening star., 1897-02-27
Mr.. Wagner's Deal With the Toronto
Ball Club.
WILL Be 4 FARM FOR WASHINGTON
Bright Prospectsf for the Local Team
This Year.
CURRENT BASE BALL TALK

| entered into during the early winter
| between Earl Wagner and Arthur A.
! Irwin, the well-known base ball manager.
| The franchise was obtained by purchase
| from the Pittsburg club. After the con-
summation of the deal, Mr.. Irwin at once
| went to work to get together a strong
| club. and that he has succeeded in doing
SO is admitted by all persons who keep in
touch with base ball matters; among his
list Of Players is McGann Gate Of Boston,,
| who is regarded as the coming first base
| man OF the country, and who has been
| batting around the four hundred mark;
| Casey, second baseman, who has already
| established a reputation a good player,
| and Wagner, a third baseman, who, 1t is
| said, will give the best of them an argu-
| ment McCauley. late of Washington, is
| also en- the Toronto staff and is known by
| the Washington fans as coming player.
This deal was wise stroke of business
| policy en- Mr.. Wagner's part, and answers
the often asked question: What arrange
ment has Mr.. Wagner made to strengthen
| MS Team in case of accident or other mis-
| fortune?'
| 1t is easily seen that the Washington
| club was never so well fortified, having
! nrst call on any player of the Toronto
| team In case Cartwright fails to come up
10 the standard in batting or in case of
his injury, McGann will be on hand to
! take his place. Casey will be a valuable
substitute for o'Brien. Third base viii be
| wei provided for by Smith, Reilley and
Wagner-should the latter be needed. Wrig-
ley will be on hand to suppant De Montre-
'lIie III case OF an accident or misfortune.
win Abbey or Lush as substitute out
! neiGers. and with better work expected
from the younger pitchers based upon the
1act that they have had one seasons ex-
perience In studying the characteristics of
the hdrQ hittCrS of he of fbor cI,,Is II ;e
not unreasonable to say that the Washing
ION club is five per cent stronger than last
year.
All the members of the team are reported
10 be in excellent condition. AL Maui saws
ne Is without ache or pain and will this
season play the game of his life, and with
MAUI IN the game confidence will be re-
stored. Mercer, although overworked last
season. made brilliant record, and it is
confidently believed will this season
ecilpse all former records. The same NAV
% Ne said OF McJames, who is sure conner
Nerton, II he is given plenty Of work. is
not llkely to prove a DISAPPOINTMENT
Cnarhe King has been working hard ali
winter and is in good condition, and will
take ms regular turn in the box
CharJle Kelley writes cheerfully Of his
coholtion and says that if he does not play
as good third base as any man in the
BUSINESS onsihess ne does does not want any pay for his
ed from his injury will be found doing
business at the old stand with his usual
grace and artistic department. Lush ia ex
pc. peo'ed 10 aod iaurels to his brow this sea-
SOIL DurlnS the last month of last season
ne was hitting the ball hard very often
Whlie ms throwing to bases was phenom-
email Charlie Abbey is as fine as silk and
never was in better condition and saws he
Will frequently duplicate his work of last
season of eight chances without an error
In one game.
IL Is not necessary to spend any time or
printers ink on Mcclure or Farrell. they
are TOO well known all over the country:
tney are always In the game and accom-
pi1sh all that is expected Of them Tom
play center field. and under his captafncv
the very best results will be obtained
y Brien, whose playing last season was
not up to his usually excellent standard
Will rehabilitate himself with the fans this
article of ball.
Therefore, 1t is seen that the claim that
w ashington Is stronger than last season is
wen founded In addition to the strong
corps or pitchers there are seven good ones
with the Toronto club, and should one or
more NOR, OF, OF them develop into stellar lights
Schmelz says Washington will end in the
hrst division. and all the local admirers of
the club hope his judgment will prove ac-
curate. -"
There will be no waiting by Mr.. Wagner
for man to develop this season F,yerv
player has been given a thorough trial and
If he has base ball in him it must come out
o. ehS Stdi uOl at Cle conclusion. When
the players sign a Washington contract
they are giveE all they ask, and in several
cases nice increase for good work will be
allowed. - W
lEston followers of the game is that Al
Mauls contract this year will call for
Work-no work, no pay. Everybody that
Witnessed the work of the handsome
tWlrier last season knows that he is capabie
or great pitching if he is fit and has his
heart In the business. Last year Maui
claimed to have strained tendon of his
arm and naturally refused to take anv
chance on running the source of his income
because Albert is smiling all the time many
people thought he was shammng. but Mr.
wagner mas confidence in the big boy and
says he will be all right the coming sea-
son. With Maui to help out Mercer Mo
James and King there need be no worry
about the twirling department.
Almost all the base ball writer's of the
country have come to the conclusion thai
Won Der Abe of the st. Louis club should
be helped out the coming season In the
way or being given players to strengthen
MS club. 10 man up tree this begging
expedition OF the st. Louis magnate looks
very old ard ragged. Going over base bali
history. 1t would seem as If Mr.. Won Der
Ahe Is about the last man that should he
assisted. Off and on he has had dozens of
players that were really the stars of the
league, but financial consideration always
found the st. Louis magnate ready to open
course Won Der Abe cannot be blamed for
the disruption of his nine when the
brotherhood movement was inaugurated
but his action during the past five years
Is what has caused SO much criticism. To
start with, in 1892 the St Louis magnate
released. sold or exchanged Brodie, Clark
son and Staley. In 1893 that top-notch
pitcher. Emerson Hawley, was exchanged
with Pittsburg for Ehret and big Wad
of money. In 1894 the sensational short
stop, Ely, also went to Pittsburg, along
with Denny Lyons, and the plucky little
pitcher, Kid Gleason, went to Baltimore
In 1898 the Cincinnati club gobbled up
Pitcher Ehret and Catcher PETIT; Quinn
went to Baltimore. "Foghorn" Miller to
Louisville. and our own Tom Brown
found berth with the Senator's Last sea-
son Mr.. Won Der Abe kept up his reputa-
tation for selling players by selling Brett
enstein for $4,000, and exchanging Cooley
with Philadelphia for Sullivan and Turner
II these players were to be grouped in St
Louis the coming season it Is dollars to
peanuts that the mound city would have
a first division team For catchers-Peitz
| and Miller; for pitchers. Breitenstein Haw-
| ley. Ehret and Clarkson; at short, Ely; at
| first, Connor; at second, Quinn or Gleason:
| at third, Lyons; in left. Brodie; In center
Cooley, and in right, Brown. With one or
two exceptions money went with the deals
that resulted in the loss of these players
| to st. Louis, and the question is, what has
haoona ba,