Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-18
Baltimore Writer'S Cast Slurs at the
Traded Orioles.
COMMENTS OF. T@' CORRESPONDENTS
Prospects Of The Local Team for
Next Year.
NOTES OF BALL PLAYERS

Ever since the exchange of Players Doyle
Reitz and Amole for DeMontreville, Nc
James and McGann, the Baltimore papers
have taken 1t upon themselves to beIittle
the ability of the men that will Come to
Washington and pick out different defects
In their moral character. The Washington
papers, on the other hand, have had moth
ing but praise to say Of the players who
will go to Baltimore, contenting themselves
with the fact that the new men for the
local club have made great regulations for
themselves on the ball field. AS to whether
the Washington papers have material for
nud-slinging controversy on the ex-Sena-
tors is left to tine base ball writer's who
have ability and shrewdness enough to Sc
cure news from the inside"
What is particularly protested against is
the slur cast at Jack Doyle and Henry
Reitz since they have been exchanged, and
the silly efforts of the Baltimore papers in
trying to square Manager Hanlon with the
oyster citys base ball patrons. Manager
Hanlon tried in every way to get rid of
Third Baseman McGraw 50 as to be able to
keep Jack Doyle on first the coming season.
McGraw blocked all negotiations by saying
that he would not play outside of Baltimore
account of his business in that city.
Everybody admits that McGraw is quite
Payer, yet Manager Hanlon preferred to
take chances of disrupting his team by re-
tanning Doyle. The players on the local
team and the local patrons are perfectly
aware of Doyles shortcomings, but do they
outweigh his playing ability? That is the
question Manager-Captain Tom Brown
and Magnate Earle Wagner think not Ever
since Doyle left the Cleveland fold he has
had these shortcomings, but there is not
a base ball writer in the country that ever
questioned his ability.
The second slur was hurled at Pepper"
Retz, to the effect that his playing in the
latter part Of the season was very poor.
and that the signs of a glass arm were
very apparent. This is a knock pure and
simple fact that any one will indorse who
witnessed the games with Boston and the
last series with Washington. In the latter
series ReitZ had IL put outs, "a assists and
errors. And what assists they were. He
threw the ball to first from all conceivable
pc sftions, a fact that clearly disproves
the glass-arm imputation, and his stops
were Just as wonderful. The fact of the
matter is, Reitz came to the bat during the
observation-disclosures hair-raising series very
frequently at times when safe hit would
have scored one or more runs. and, because
the rnuch-desired hit was not forthcoming
he was never forgiven. This fact was
demonstrated during tho Washington Sc
ries, when ReitZ's WOrkGwas of the most
sensational order, but failed to receive the
slightest recognition. all the applause COM
ing from the Washington contingent. All
the Washington enthusiasts can ask for is
that Reitz plays next season in the form
he showed during the latter part of last
season, when the Baltimore papers say he
gave signs of going backward.
AS for Amole, although a new man. the
hammer had to be used on him just for the
sake of consistency. One Of the Baltimore
papers said that an he was good for was
watching first base. but that the players
we're getting on to his moyements, and even
this feature Of his work would go for moth
ing the coming Season. Land all this In the
face Of the fact that thousands of the Bal
yelling for AmOle
the last Boston game like pack of Co
manches. on account of his great showing
against Pittsburz... when, he had gone into
the box. after Hotter had been hammered
to all parts of tine lot. and won his game.
Every person connected with the w ash
ington club and. about % per cent OF the
patrons are satisfied with the deal, and II
the Baltimore papers can say as mucn from
their side of the house there should be no
kick coming. Jack Doyle and Henry Reitz
have done too much for the Baltimore club
in seasons past to be treated like cuipr1ts
when the manager of that team has been
driven to the wall by Internal dissensions
and compelled to exchange them for other
men.
whnt the Correspondents Say.
The Baltimore correspondent of the Sport
ing Life has the following to say anent the
recent exchange of Baltimore and Wash
ington players:
'aThis letter is dated the 18th. but, thank
heaven, the deal vas contaminated on the
10th That Washington-Baltimore exchange
is taken on childlike faith in Ned Hanlon,
and If it proves that he has gotten the
worst Of 1t he will be hung at the yard-arm
of the ship Of state.
"The idea of trading Jack Doyle for any
thing less than the whole Washington ciuo,
with Earle Wagner thrown In as a counter
weight il repellant to the Baltimore mind,
but, Of course, we wouldn't know what 10
do with Earle unless we put him IN the
flower show.
"McJames is a macdandy when he feels
good and has breakfasted on Quaker oats,
and De Montreville may be toned into har-
mony with Oriole methods. and Baltimore
ball. But down went McGinty to the bot
tom Of the sea, and we thought McGann
was down there with him. We don't al
WAYS know, you know, when we are
lnonkeying with Ned Hanlon, and we are
not sure that he had anything to do with
the deal.
"But Jack Doyle, just think of it. the
only onliest modern first baseman, ex-
changed for anything less than Fatrlck lie
Hass and Elmer Bates.
Ground cover is certainly sacrinced;
Why, Henry Reitz can cover more ground
all alone by him self than the combined
senatorial trinity. But Henry can't pat ne
can't run bases ard he has shown a dispo-
sition to be hospital case In the free
ward.
But Jack Doyle-dashing Jack-there's
where it sticks. -a
The idea or this man, VIII mas peeh
model--a sample-being traded Off like bull
beef meat fo. mutton Is quite shocking to
sensitive Oriole nerves.
LAS to Amole. he is conundrum, and
the boys haven't guessed him yet. He has
a popularity of delivery, the same. seem
ingly widely curved ball. which never
varies from a given coulse. Observing this.
the prediction was made that when the
league batsElen once got onto that curve
it would be thoroughly Strengthened out.
But it wasn't. - -.-H -
"But Jack Doyle Will Jerk some jig-water
into those Senator's anyway, ard. as they
are only forty MITES on from Baltimore
and the pennant In 1898. why, we can so
over there occasionally and see modern
first ba seman play abAll.n
The st. Louis correspondent says: The
recent Baltimore Washington deal has been
the subject most discussed In local base
ball circles during the past few days. Man.
ager Hanlon has beAH son Unusually success
full that anything dess is regarded as
the transaction is looked upon as the vic,
TIM or. in vulgar parlakce. the sucker.
1t seems impossibief to Imagine that the
astuts Ned could gen tthe.Eerst Of any deal.
but for the life Of 'fne rfcannet figure out
how the Baltimore, club obtained any adj