Evening star., 1897-01-19
The Hoosier's Friends Look on the
Matter as Settled.
MEAGHER'S EXHIBITION OF SKATING
Races for the Championship al
Stamford, Conn.
CURRENT SPORTING NOTES
From the Cincinnati Enquirer.

| From time to time there have been pub
| lished intimations to the effect that a deal
was pending whereby Rusie. the thundey-
| bolt pitcher Of the New Yorks, was to be
| exchanged for Win Mercer, the star
twirler of the Washington team. Over in
| Indianapolis, where Rusie is spending the
| winter. the deal is not referred to as a pos
| sibility, but is announced stern reality.
| In other words, the friends of Rusie insist
that the trade has practically been made,
and that this year Rusie will be Senator,
| and Mercer and "Scrappie" Joyce viii once
again become side partners like they were
| the earlier Fart of last season. This an
| nou3c.mert is made on the strength of a
letter received by the writer. 1t was writ
who is in touch with the ball players win
tering in the Hoosier capital Here is an
extract from the letter:
Il want to tell you that the local players
who run with Rusie are claiming that the
deal between Washington and New York
to exchange Mercer for Rusie is practically
go. Washington having consented, and
freedman, so Rusie's chummy friends say.
is only holding off until he can let himself
down easy. They also say that none of the
league magnatcs want Rusie's case to come
to a trial. fer fear 1t will knock out owner
ship of players, and leave the managers at
the players mercy. Rusie continues to take
life easy, but is mum as a clam when ap-
preached by newspaper men,
OF course, there will be denials from both
ends of the rumored deal as there always
is when news is given premature publica-
ron However, the ball players who asso-
ciate with Rusie must have received some
assurance from the big fellow that there
was deal of some kind on, or they would
not talk SO confidently about the future
Of Rusie. If the trade is made 1t is difficult
at this time to say which of the clubs will
have the worst of 1t. If Rusie is Rusie,
then the Senators. on form, would look to
have Jared the best. But Is Rusie what he
used TO be? One year of idleness didn't
help him. In this progressive age, one can
will get So far ahead of him that he can
never c1tch up again. 1t is claimed that
Rusie has kept himself In condition. Per
maps he has. but just throwing balls against
that pitching in real engagement is. A
pitcher may warm UD" in grand styIe
nave all his speed and curves and then fan
an easy victim in the game. Pitching in
practice is no more the real thing than box
ing Is real fighting. 1t Is impossible to tell
anything about a pitcher from his practice
work. Rusie for this year is a long chance.
NO matter how strong he may feel or how
well he is trained 1t Will be guess until he
SHOWS in an actual engagement that his de-
livery Is as deceptive as it used to be-
mercer Is one of the greatest pitchers the
league ever had on its pay roll At least.
ne was last season. He showed his mettle
IN the earlier part of last season. 1t isn't
such wonderful feat for a coed pitcher to
plteh grand ball when he has a splendid
ball team behind him. MERGERS record of
eight straight games against the best in the
league. with an aggregation to back him up
that did not stand high either as batters.
nelder5 ~ or base runners. is phenomenal
one II he can pitch wonderful ball for
tall-end team. he should pitch much better
Dali with team of stars behind him Mar-
Ger Is not only pitcher. but he is batter.
Dase runner, and. best of ALL a. willing
snappy, aggressive player who is ALWAYS in
the game. Even IL Rusie is Rusie. New
YORK won't have much the worst of II In
securing Mercer
Not Regarded Here ns Probable.
The exchange Of Rusie for Mercer hos
been under discussion in local base ball
circles for some time, but a majority of
the followers of the local club or those
that stand the closest to Earl Wagner are
positive In the denial that the trade will
not take place. OF course. Mr.. Wagner
takes very few people into his confidence
but to those with whom he had converse
ton during his visit last week he inti
mated tfat Mercer would be about the last
player on the Washington team to be sold
or traded This is about as much news as
can be gained in this CITY
Going on the basis that where there is
smoke there must be fire, several base ball
enthusiasts believe such trade ia con-
templated These people point to the fact
that Mr.. Wagner and Mr.. Freedman are
very close friends, and that last seasoa
the former made an offer of $12, 500 for the
big pitcher.
From this point of view it is not believed
that the New York magnate would give up
Rusie for Mercer. unless the veteran catch
er, Jim Mcclure. was thrown in for good
measure. They argue that the New Yorks
want catcher more than they do a pitch
er. and that Mcclure will come the nearest
to filling Farrelrs shoes of any one that
can be secured.
There is hardly base ball enthusiast in
Washington that does not hold to the be-
lief that Mercer is good as any pitcher
in the league today, but are there any in
the league as good Rusie when at his
best? From an advertising point of view
there can be no doubt that the trade would
benefit Washington, for a time, at least.
Then, should Rusie prove a fizzle, the re-
action against the local management would
be tremendous, but should the Dig pitcher
round to his '94, or even 90 FORM what a
boom 1t would be for base ball in WASH
ington!