The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-16
HSMANAGERIANDPLAYER
.BOB" ALLEN SIGNED BY THE IN
DIANAPOLIS BALL CLUB.
He Finished Last Season With the
Meeting Saturday.

Robert G. Allen, the new manager of the
Indianapolis Baseball Club, arrived in the
city yesterday at noon and was closeted
with President Colt for several hours. 1t
was pretty well understood when he came
here that he would sign a contract to man.
age the team next season and to play short
as well. 1t did not take him long to come
to terms with Mr.. Colt. and he signed
contract during the afternoon. Bob" AL
len is we'll known as a player pretty
much all over the country He vas captain
and shortstop of the Philadelphia League
club for several years, subsequently, retir-
ing from the game TO engage in business
at Paulding, O., where his father is at the
head of bank. The attractions of the dia-
mond, however. were too strong for him,
and he again succumbed to their influence,
taking charge of the Detroit team last sea-
son. He did not get on very we'll with Van
derbeck, however and threw up the task Of
plotting the Tigers, going to Boston and
finishing the season with the champions.
He stands very high in the profession, and,
after it had been definitely learned that
Manager Watkins was to go to Pittsburg,
President Colt Immediately opened up a
correspondence with Mr.. Allen relative to
taking charge of the Indianapolis team.
Having had several fine offers for next
year, it took considerable persuasion to in
duce Mr.. Allen to take charge of the team
here not perhaps, because the inducements
offered were not as good as elsewhere, but
because for three years Indianapolis has
played championship ball, and next season
will enter the lists with a comparatively
new team However, it was demonstrated
to him yesterday in the conference here
haf VT ne not ha
if any, behind its predecessor, and, that OBJ
stacle having been removed, he readily
came to terms.
In conversation with Manager Allen last
evening he said he was more than glad to
be in charge of the Indianapolis team, and
he felt confident, from what he already
knew of the available talent that he would
have a winner next season. The infeld
which it is expected to get will be up to
and perhaps a shade better than that of
the past season. While plans for next sea-
son were discussed pretty freely yesterday,
no policy was outlined nor will there be
one until next month, when it is Mr.. Aliens
purpose to remove his family to Indianapo-
lis and make it his home. He will then
pitch into the work of getting together q
tirst-claSs team, and there will be welcome
news for the fans soon after New Years,
as we'll as manage the team. He is very
fast man at short and a good hitter, so that
at least one position on the infield is al
ready filled. Motz will play first, and, while
Steinfeldt will not be at third, as was
hoped, Manager Allen says that he has in
view better man for the base, and he
ought to know, for he helped to bring
Steinfeldt out last season. The new man
is not merely possibility, but strong
probability There is plenty of time to get
together a first-class team, and Indianapo-
lis, says Manager Allen, will have nothing
else. He knows that as well as if he had
lived here all his life. He will return to-
home
There will be meeting in Chicago Satur-
day morning of the Western League presi-
dents, at which the Grand Rapids fran
chise will be disposed of. Some of the
members of the league have been anxious
to admit Omaha, but that city is such a
doubtful proposition that it will likely not
get the franchise. For the good of the
Western League it is to be hoped that
team will be placed in Chicago. There has
been much talk of this, and of Arson hav-
ing charge of such team. This would be a
fine thing for the Western League, and
would mean much money for every other
club. The matter will probably be def
nitely decided at Saturdays meeting which
President Colt will attend,