Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-04-02
Local Ball Players Who Want More
Pay.
Why IT is REFUSED BY WAGNER
Negotiations for Bert Myers at
Third.
NOTES OF THE DIAMOND

experience, he has had such q formidable
strike on his hands, yet it Is formidable
only for the reason that the players refuse
to discuss the situation with him pro and
con. Players who have been under the
Wagner banner before have reported on
time and, with a few words over small
perquisites, have signed their contracts.
Even Gus weighing, who was with Wagner
when the latter handled the Athletic fran
elise in Philadelphia, and is well aware of
his square dealings, comes to Washington
without cent being promised him, and
trists entirely to the local magnate's judg-
met Of his ability to pitch good ball. AL.
Sc bach and Charley Farrell signed this
seasons contracts. ss they have done be-
!oie, without word being written on their
bi;. nix spaces, and SO on Gown the line.
the capture of Doyle in New York last
Saturday was a feather in Mr.. Wagner's
cap, and on his return to Washington he
received letter from Snyder, the catcher,
saying he was willing to take chances on
peing treated right. Amole is satisfied with
his Baltimore salary, but told Mr.. Wagner
that he knew If he pitched gooi bali his
value would Increase and that better sal
airy would come his way next year. Jake
Getiman walks into the office at National
Park, pulls cut his contract and says he
thinks he ought to have little more mon
ey than he received last season. but that he
VIII play just the same for the old figures
When asked how much increase he want
ed, Gettman named certain sum- and the
next minute his name was down on the
contract. He walked out of the office with
ms mead thrown back and his chest out
WIN Mercer has been high-priced man for
the past two years, yet he had his little
Kick for slight increase, and got it. Jim
Mcclure figured in a little mix-up with Mr..
wagner over transportation and came out
ahead' ana dozen other cases could be
cited, II necessary, to demonstrate the fact
tEat the Washington magnate knows the
value OF satisfaction well as money.
NOW cite the cases of the hold-out play
ers and see the difference. McHale is a
minor league player, with a reputation to
establish in the Zig league, yet he asks TO-.
an increase that would almost place him
on a footing with the limit men. Wagner
Is another player who values his abilities
pretty HIGH but has yet to display his
worth in the big league Dinneen, being a
pitcher, has some excuse for asking for an
increase, as twirlers seldom stay in the
game as long as the other players, yet he
may be the deadest of dead ones. Reitz
Is one Of the dissatisfied ones with a big ID
His salary last year with Baltimore was a
pretty stiff one, but he wants his Wash
lngton income to be increased about 40 per
cent. and in addition, TRANSPORTATION for
himself and wife from Sacramento, Cal.
These "hold-outs' evidently do not know
Earl Wagner AS he told a Star reporter
the other day: II would sooner have a
dozen first-class players at $1,000 each than
bundle OF rev men at half that salary.
II TIC men are good they are worth a great
zeal OF money to me, but how am I to
know whether these men who are making
their demands are worth a nickel?'"
Roger Bresnehan has been i'll advis ID NV
some old players around his home in Ohio
ana as consequence, instead of gaining
a frmer foothold in the big league, he goes
back to a minor organization to secure
what lie Gid net possess when he was with
washington; that is, nerve. Roger pitched
nine games for the Senators last season.
hve on the home grounds. four of which he
won, and nary victory came his way
while on foreign grounds. He couldn't
stand the grueling from the shouters on the
blcae hers and players. To get over this
stage OF his career, Mr.. Wagner would
have had to carry him throughout the sea-
son. and take chances, but instead, through
bad advice, Mr.. Bresnehan will try to add
nervine to his system in foreign cIimes.
The case of Hillary Swain is different from
all the others. Had he been a wise lad he
would have kept quiet, tried his best to
pitch good ball and rely upon Mr.. Wagners
sense of justice when salary day came
around. But instead. his bluff was called
and he is now out of the business as re-
su;t Of his own indiscretions Vale. Hi
larry.
There are a few, very few, 1t might be said
who take the greatest delight in harping
on anything that looks like trouble in the
senatorial camp, and for this reason this
class has been much worked up over "Wag-
ners grinding down his players" If nee
essary. there could be obtained from all
the players under contract a testimonial
that would set at rest all doubts as to Mr.,
Wagner's fair dealing with his players, and
the chances taken by the hold-out players
upon signing contracts offered them would
be very small.
The debut of Jack Doyle in a senatorial
uniform, that is expected to take place to-
epoch in the history Of the national game
In Washington. Year after year the club
has been going along either around the
tail end or very near it. Last year the
Senators climbed to tie for sixth position,
and did 1t with about half a dozen brainy
players on the team. This year Capt
Brown will have the assistance OF a player
at first base who never knows when he is
licked. and. in addition to his aggressive
ness. knows the game from A to 2. Jack
Doyle has tntimated more than once to the
newspaper people who have interviewed
him that he is always looking out for
asset he has become very valuable prop
erty in the base tall world. The converse
ton between Wagner and Doyle at the
New York conference would make mighty
interesting reading were its full details
known, but, Of course, such treat cannot
be expected. Doyles career on the dia-
mond has been a successful one from the
start. His first engagement was with the
Canton, Ohio team. in 1888. but before the
season closed his good work attracted the
attention Of Gus Schmelz. then handling
the Columbus, ONO, team IN the american
Association, and he was purchased by that
club. In 1880 came the Brotherhood war.
and found Jack the utility man with the
Cleveland club of that organization. After
the was was over, in 1891, a2, Jack re-
manned with the Cleveland league team.
but at the close of the latter season was
placed in the celebrated grab bag" and
New York was the lucky club to pick out
Doyles name. For three consecutive sea-
sons Doyle's name went down on New
York contract, but in the fall of '95 Ned
Hanlon thought he saw q good thing In
the great first baseman. and secured him
through an exchange, kid" Gleason and
So 200 going to New York to compensate
for his loss. The last two seasons, '96 and
'97, Jack Doyle was with Baltimore. and
the base ball world has already decided
how much he did for that club during it's
struggles for championship honors. 1893
will find Jack Doyle with the Washington
club. and the glad hand will be extended
to him from all sides. He has turned many
a trick against the old Senators. but that
Is all forgiven, and mighty chorus goes
up that he may use the same devices
against the clubs that win pay Washington
visit the coming season.
The Milwaukee correspondent Of the
Sporting Life, under the heading "Bert's
Blur" has the following article in this
weekss paDer: