Evening star., 1897-06-08
Mr.. SCHMELZRETIRES
What This Means to the Washington
Base Ball Club.
Mr. WAGNER IN ENTIRE CONTROL
He Will Use His Best Judgment to
Strengthen His Team.
PROMISES TO DO SOMETHING

Manager Schmelz has resigned his posi-
ton on the Washington base ball club. and
from this morning Mr.. Earl Wagner will
assume the entire direction Of the team,
retaining Tom Brown as captain. Mr..
Wagner will not attempt to manage the
team from the bench. but will give the
captain entire charge Of the men during
the game. Mr.. Wagner will, however, be
untrammeled in exercising his own judg-
ment in the matter Of the make up OF the
team. Heretofore. there being manager
under contract. he always deferred to the
Judgment Of that official. not invariably,
many think, with the best results to the
club
Those who know not only what has been
done but what has been under considera-
tion Ior the past year, are satisfied that II
Mr. Wagner's ideas had been carried out
the Washington team would today be very
near first division club A number OF
men whom he had picked out and whose
names ne could have secured to contracts
teams.
Mr.: Wagner believed In infusing new
blood Into his team. while Mr.. Schmeiz al
together would prove stronger than a team
pfeken up by the Introduction into the
ranks Of uHtried colts, NO matter what ear
marHs they might have as 'comers." This
agreed.
Why Mr. Schmelz Retires.
MIR. Schmelz leaves the Washington club
with the friendHest feelings and the con-
sctousness Of having done his best to pro-
vide fast team for Washington. This
fact IS recognized. too, by his employers,
and by the public as well. Mr.. Schmelz
also realized that his course had not been
a popular one, and that to pursue 1t longer
would have the effect of reducing the at
tendance from day to day, and therefore he
1reeiy gave up the managerial reins.
Both Mr.. Wag11r and Mr.. Schmelz were
at National Park this morning when a Star
reporter visited it. They were engaged in
closing their business relations. which have
always been and still are OF the friendliest
character.
Mr.. Wagner found time to talk with a
Star reporter at considerable length as to
what the change of management means.
He wants some new men, and assured The
Star reporter that he would leave nothing
undone to strengthen his team.
He feels that the Washington public has
supported him nobly under adverse circum-
stances. and he is ready and eager to do
anything in his power to show his appreci-
alton of this support.
What Mr.. Wagner Proposes to Do.
1T is hard to get good men now" he
said. Clubs that have them want to keep
item and will only make q trade when
they can get by long odds the best of the
deal. / stand ready to make any trade
that would not be suicidal. and will not
hesitate to spend money to get good men,
fuckers deal was on a purely financial
basis. Boston had been willing to trade
him before. but wanted SO much in ex-
Change that l could not think of accepting
the oner have several schemes in mind,
but 1t may be that not one of them can be
effected; but 1t will not be for lack of try-
irg. OF course it would be very inadyisable
for me to say what want to do or what
nope to do, but am going to do some
thlng' and that. too. as soon as / possibly
cCanh j. reaH3eI the' necessity sof lgetting q
hustling ball players. and / don't propose
to make gentlemanly department and man
Eers the first requisites. l want ball play
ers who play day after day their hardest
to win games and who are not the semi-
monthly kindly thai mean men whose
mn ds are always fixed on the 18th and last
Gays OF the month, when they can draw
their salaries.
want men who are able to hdt the hall
al critical stages of the game when men
are on bases-wAaen a hit means runs a
pan players official average does not al
WY ~Sys te1 q true tale. One hit at crit
ical moment is worth six that result in
nothing. Some players are apt to crack
out a base hit when it is not needed but
Just as soon as the game depends upon
eAASiA AesrtS jump up into their
throats and q pop fly or three strikes IA
the result Emergency hitting was
Joyces strong point. He would come up
to the plate with an air of confidence. re-
marking to the pitcher. have Just been
waiting for this chance. l won't do a
thing to you but send the first ball YOU
put within reach into the bleachers.
Oftentimes this remark was supplemented
with very strong, sulphurous adjectiyes
that would not tend to make the twirler
any the more confident of his ability to
send him to the bench. That is the kind
Of players want. and II they can be had
for love OF money they viii be secured.
do not want to make any injudhcious move,
however, and therefore I will have to act
with caution. l ask the Washington pub
lie to have a little more of the patience
which they have shown thus far and
will guarantee that something will be done
with the view Of strengthening the Wash
ington ball club. I recognize just as well
as they do that 1t ought to be strengthen
ed"
Mr.. Wagner said. however. that he would
not have a successor to Mr.. Schmelz as q
non-playtng manager.
TOday's Schedule and Weather.
Cleveland at Washington-cloudy.