The times., 1898-09-14
STANDING OF THE CLUBS.

y
Today Arthur A Irwin assumes the
management of the Washington Baseball
Club and in the future whatever credit
attaches to the team will belong solely
TO the ex-manager of the Torontos. Just
what he will do with the team as at
present constituted remains to be seen.
Five new men arrived with him. They
are Casey, the catcher; Freeman. the out
fielder, and Pitchers Suthoff, Baker and
Williams Now II is reasonable to as
sumo that Irwin does not intend TO carry
eight pitchers on the clubs payroll
Hence it is not unreasonable to say that
at least four of them viii have to look
for other berths. 1t is highly probable
that Farrell viii be released to New
York, and that Casey and Mcguire will
alternate as backstops. Jake Gettman
will likely be found guarding the initial
sack, while RietZ and Smith viii remain
at second and third respectively. The po-
sition Of shortstop remains to be filled
and Irwin will be compelled to do a lively
sKiImish in order TO secure one. Free
man viii ill in the gap occasioned 10y
Gettman's transposition to the infieId.
The remainder of the present season will
be devoted to experimenting with the
players and in separating the HOLSTERS
from the ball players.
Arthur Ir,vIn's Career
Arthur A. Irwin was born in Toronto,
Canada, in 1851 and is consequently now
I'm his forty-seventh year. While a
youngster he played ball in the Canadian
capital and his skill and ability attracted
much attention. His first professional
engagement was with the famous old
Providence team in lSS2, where he played
shortstop until disbanding Of that club
in 1884 The following year found him
playing on the Philadelphia team, where
he remained until 1889, when he came TO
this city and assumed the managerial
reins Of the Washington club. Then the
Brotherhood incident came to pass and
Irwin cast his fortunes with the players
going TO the Boston club. The collapse
of the Brotherhood caused Irwin TO seek
shelter IN the American Association and
he turned up as manager of the cham
pion Bostons Of 1891.
In 1892 Manager Billy Barnie was side
tracked by the Wagners and Irwin in
stalled as his successor He succeeded
in putting the Senators at the head of
tie second division. In the middle of the
season Irwin resigned his position and
went into business in this city.
The year "a saw the mantle of Harry
Wright fail upon the shoulders of Irwin
Il
aGephia club was inflated TO a marked
degree.
In 1886 Irwin was engaged to manage
the New Yorks and just as he had the
club going at a lively clip Freedman be-
came disagreeable and Arthur rendered
his resignation. Then it was that Irwin
took hold of the Wagners Toronto club
and made it a second place team in the
Eastern League championship race. Last
Fall Irwin bought out the Wagners in
terest in the Cannuck club and has realized
q royal profit out of his investment. He
now comes back TO Washington and the
= fans hope TO see good results.
To Build Up Winning Team.
Arthur Irwin enters upon his new duties
fully impressed with the importance and
responsibilities he mas assumed, and will
ct once begin the work of reconstructing
the team. He cannot hope-in the short
time remaining of the present season-to
work a complete revolution of the team
He viii, however. remove some of the
barnacles that have contributed 50 large
ly in the disgraceful failures of the pres
ent season, and seek to give the team new
life and aspirations by infusion of new
blood The public cannot fully appreciate
the herculean task that confronts Mr..
Irwin, in attempting to build up team
that will be an honor and the pride of a
city like Washington. That he will be
equal to the emergency. no one acquaint-
ed with him will doubt. His long con-
nection with the game as player, man
ager, and magnate has peculiarly fitted
him for the position be has assumed. He
thoroughly understands the peculiarities
and eccentricities of ball players and is
master OF the technique and intricacies
Of the game. Under his management ball
players will be compelled to make an eff
lalC ST N alufy-
out of the business and make room for
better men.
A majority of the men on the present
team have shown that they could not ap-
preciate the kindness and courtesy that
have been so unstintedly extended them IN
the past. Should any of them be FORUM
ate enough 10 remain with the new or
ganization they viii experience new
order Of things. They will find that under
the new management the organization
viii pay for their best services exclusive
~, that good fellows and good fellowship
will cut no figure in the consideration of
their work and abilities
IL is not meant by this that Mr. Irwin
will be tyranical, or unreasonable, in his
demands. He is proyerbial for his suave
and genial social qualities, and makes
friends wherever he goes Bna players
who try 10 do the right thing will always
have friend in him. Yet I'm his new
relations he has said that his one fixed
and paramount object and ambition will
be 10 get club together that will take
a prominent position in the race and be
credit to the Capital City, and to ac-
complish this, everything else will be
subordinated.
Card From Earl Wagner
The Times is in receipt of the follow
ing letter from Vice President J. Earl
Wagner, Of the Washington Baseball
Club:
81 desire through the medium Of the