Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-27
THAT BASE BALLDEAL
How the Home Club Will Be Bene-
flied by the Exchange.
an INSIDE view OF PHE SITUATION
Secretary Robb's Opinion Of the
New Men and of the Team.
SOME MIDWINTER GOSSIP
SOME MIDWINTER GOSSIP

Written for The Evening Star.
There has been much speculation among
the Washington fairs with reference to the
recent deal with the Baltimore club, In
W hich the transfer of McJames, DeMon;re-
Vile and Mctsann was made for Doyle,
Reftz and Amole. The preponderance of
opinion is that the Washington club has
been greatly. Strengthened There are
some. however. who believe otherwise, and
Whlle they are in a small minority their
criticism of this transaction is entitled to
respectful consideration. No one 1 think
who is thoroughly familiar with the tech
nique Of the game. and who has an init
nate knowledge of the abilities, character
fstics and habits of the players involved in
TINS deal. could for moment side with the
minority 1t is rot fair test of the ability
OF a ball player to witness his performance
from the grand stand. A player may make
Il MT every time he goes to the bat and i'm
press ordinary spectators with the idea
mat ne IS great ball player, whereas if
Trey mad followed MIN closely through A
lufloer OF games and carefully analysed
ms work, they would find in many cases
mat more than one game had been lost nv
reason Of his dumb base running and field
ing Mechanical ball playing is not the
only requisite that goes to make I'D a fin
ished professional ball player The star
prayer Is the one with an active brain who
is quick to see an opportunity for an aG-
outrageous play and will take advantage
OF II, VINO Will make a sacrifice Of personal
ambition to win game, regardless of the
piaudlts from the grand stand Such a
player is Jack Doyle, such PLAYER was
Nike Kelley and other recognized stars of
the profession.
Necessary Qualifications.
a ball players usefulness to a club de-
pei ds upon other necessary qualities that
f.,p
necessary to be considered in making up a
successful team. What are his habits? Does
he husband his strength and keep himself
IN good physical condition? Or is he addict
ed 10 vices that impair his health and de
stroy his ambition? Is he dissipated play-
err WHO slories in nightly revels at the ex-
penSe of his employer who suffers in con-
sequence Of his inability to render his hest
services? Is he in harmony with the club
members in ali matters that contribute to
the success of the team, or is he Of a per
verse and unsynpathetic nature whose
only ambition is to make a good personal
ret ord? The virtues mentioned are neces-
sdry elements in the repertoire of a ball
player that make him valued member of
u team. The persons who have the only
means of Knowing these characteristics Of
nan players are not found among the specta-
tors. l know there are many persons who
are the Verie5t novices in the game who
presume to tell the manager lust how the
game should be played. and who should
play at the several positiCrs, with other
ADVICE ABOUT the conduct of the business
winch costs nothing and is harmless These
gentlemen do not mean to be oficiOuS or
offensive. They are doubtless actuated by
&c Cd motives. Yet, if they V uld stop and
consider that manager has means OF
asCertainin&s the worth or worthiessness of
bail players that is not within their reach,
they would. l believe. acquesce in his
judgment with good grace.
Manager Wngner's shrewdness.
L do not believe there is a man in the
business today well qualified to decide
upon the merits of ball player as Earl
wagner, nor one so well posted On the fine
points of the game as lie is. He mas been
palnstaking base ball student for many
years. and as a historian of The sport in
all the eras OF its existence he is without a
peer. In connection with this superior
knowledge he is half owner of the Cuba
franchise that he values a 100000, and for
which he has standing offer OF 10000. 1t
is not therefore reasonable to suppose that
he would cOnsummate a deal that he was
not satisfied would be for his best interests.
Some of our friends argue that the very
fact that Ned Hanlon consented to the
trade is prima facia evidence tEsr he got
the best end OF it. Well, | don't know. 1t
is true Ned Hanlon has made some very
wise and profitable deals of this; character
and there is no question that he is COM
petent and shrewd manager. Ii is also
true that Earl Wagner is no novice in
base ball deal: he has made some reputa-
ton in this line himself.
Both Sides Benefited.
The truth is neither Mr.. Hanlon's nor
Mr.. Wagners ability to make desirable
trade cuts any figure in this transaction.
The deal was prompted by business sense
upon the part of both these gentlemen,
whose mutual interests were at stake, and
both parties have been benefited ny the
transfer. There were dissensions in the
Baltimore club which made ii necessary for
Hanlon to make some changes. Earl Wag-
ner was the only magnate who had a
player that would fit in the Baltimore team
that was available. Mr.. Wagner wanted
Jack Doyle, and has wanted him for sew
eral years, and was am S;us to dispose Of
De Montrevie. MIR. Wagner wanted d left
handed pitcher and MIR. Hanlon wanted Nc
James. This was easy sailing. Mr.. Hanion
next wanted first baseman TO supply the
place OF Doyle. Mr.. Wagner was shy
second baseman, SO an exchange of Nc
Gam for ReitZ was accomplished.
1t Is easy to see that it Was necessary to
make this tripartite agreement, in order
10 accommodate the necessities Of both
clubs. Ed. HanIon did not make his deal
because he believed he getting more
competent players than he was letting go.
He made ii because ii would, in his opinion,
aliay discussions among his players, which
threatened the clubs future success. Earl
Wagner was differently situated. He let
tU men go that were sad disappointment
to linn, and who, he felt, had not given
i'm their best services, and secured the
services of players whom he particularly
desired, and whose regulations ball ar
lists are well established. Therefore, SO far
as the w Washington end is concerned, there
is 20 question that the club has been ma
terially strengthened, and SO far as Balti-
more is concerned, Hanlon has made the
very best possible deal within his reach. l
have no doubt the Washington men will
,.I, bait holl in P,1f thn1. Il